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Terry Hooper-Scharf

Sunday 24 November 2013

Exclusive: Kick Ass 2 DVD Review



Firstly, I ought to note that Rottentomatoes.com has this to say about Kick Ass 2: "Kick-Ass 2 falls short in its attempt to emulate the original's unique blend of ultra-violence and ironic humor."

Well, I'm guessing that in the case of that particular 29% they just wanted to be "film bitches" -you know, even if it's a great movie they have -HAVE- to have something bad to say.  They think its cool. But 66% of those who saw it "liked it".

Now, the first film I thought was "okay". Fun.  But sometimes the second film fails or falls short of what you had hoped for.  It's Sunday. I'm not in a very good mood. Yeah, I am soooo ready for this.

Bad language. Lots of bloody violence. Well, I was not expecting Mary Poppins. 

I heard somewhere that Jim Carrey had said that he was not very happy as Colonel Stars and Stripes. I hope that isn't true. I am NOT a big Jim Carrey fan but I think he stole a huge chunk of this film with his character and had it not been for the body language I might not have guessed that it was him.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, playing Dave Lizewski (Kick-Ass) and Chloe Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready (Hit-Girl) are (slightly) older and I did wonder whether they could be anywhere near as close to good in this follow-up as in the first movie. I was shocked.  They were far better. The two played off each other well and never ever trying ticking off Mindy by humiliating her. All I can say is watch out for the student cafeteria scene where she gets her revenge -I may have said "gross" but I was also choking with laughter.

The supporting cast were excellent. No plot spoilers here but we saw Chris D'Amico's (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) mob father blown up in the first film and now he wants revenge. When Xavier (John Leguizamo) Chris' bodyguard finds him all dressed up he is told "I am no longer Chris D'Amico! Now I am....the M----- F-----!" Which made me laugh out loud again. As "the world's first super villain" he is a real treat.

And Dave's pals return --Clark Duke as Marty with his alter ego of Battle Guy and Augustus Prew as Todd who, uh, fails miserably in getting his own hero name -Ass Kicker!

The supporting heroes are all superb but you have to have one really cool and mean cookie -someone to give Hit-Girl a real fight. My star supporting villainess role award goes toOlga Kurkulina as "Mother Russia"! And you'll see why when you see the film.

I've read the graphic novel and I was not too impressed. But this movie version is spot on. Yes, violent and very, very bloody but the story/script is spot on for me. Good characterization, great dialogue with lots of puns, humour but with gravitas. Trying to write a story that can flip from humour to sudden deadly seriousness takes skill. Jeff Wadlow both wrote and directed this film and he turned in a real gem.

The final showdown is both deadly serious as well as darkly humorous. 

There are so many scenes I want to blab about but that is going to spoil it. If you have not seen the film buy the dvd and make it your Christmas Day (or any day) treat.  I was really -really- looking forward to tearing into this but it is excellent.

One thing that almost got the dvd a bad review: I know lawyers and legal sort these things out and with the number of illegal downloads and rip-off dvds out there some precaution needs to be taken. A code in a corner of the screen so you know who, if anyone, has been a naughty person or even a (c) notice above the picture itself. But, a film is an audio-vizual experience and I'm surprised if there are good reviews when, at important or poignant scenes in the movie "Property of Universal International" pops up across the screen. In future I will be basing reviews based on copyright factor annoyance. It was THAT bad.

So for the official trailer, why not!



















There’s nothing amateur about these superheroes…
 
KICK-ASS 2

*FINAL ARTWORK TBC*
 
“What it really looks like to Kick Ass”, THE SUN
“Witty, wild and wired”, TOTAL FILM
 
ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD - BOTH WITH ULTRAVIOLET™ - AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM 9 DECEMBER 2013
AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW
 
 
Prepare for another round of badass superhero action and dark comedy as KICK-ASS 2 is released on Blu-ray™, Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray™ and DVD – all with UltraViolet™ - plus digital download on Monday 9 December 2013 from Universal Pictures (UK); pre-order your copy from Friday 27 September via Amazon.co.uk.
Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for more action-packed encounters and fearless crusading in the follow-up to 2010’s global hit, KICK-ASS. This time round, the amateur superheroes are joined by Jim Carrey (Ace Venture: Pet Detective, The Truman Show) who takes on the role of born-again ex-mobster, Colonel Stars and Stripes, making KICK-ASS 2 one of the must-see blockbusters this year.
Having inspired a new wave of self-made masked crusaders with his insane bravery, Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson; KICK-ASS, Savages) joins forces with his fellow vigilantes in Justice Forever, the patrol league led by Colonel Stars and Stripes. Meanwhile, Hit Girl AKA Mindy (Chloë Grace Moretz; KICK-ASS, Carrie) is struggling to navigate the terrifying world of High School as she attempts to live as a normal teenage girl. But when Red Mist, reborn as The Mother F%&*^r, (Christopher Mintz-Plasse; KICK-ASS, Super Bad) assembles an evil league in his quest to become the world’s first super villain and seek revenge on Kick-Ass and Hit Girl, Mindy is forced to come out of retirement to prevent their total annihilation. As The Mother F%&*^r puts his evil plan into action, it becomes clear that he’s overlooked a crucial flaw in his scheme: if you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.
Don’t miss the next installment of explosive action in KICK-ASS 2, packed with dark humour, badass combat, and adrenaline-fuelled fight scenes, as it is released on Blu-ray™ and DVD with UltraViolet™ and digital download from 9 December.
Pre-order your copy now via Amazon.co.uk on http://amzn.to/14GlmFV
PRODUCT INFORMATION:
  • Title:                      KICK-ASS 2
  • Release Date:    9 December 2013
  • Rating:                  15
  • Cast:                      Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jim Carey,                         Morris Chesnut, Claudia Lee, Clark Duke, Augustus Prew, Donald Faison,                                             Matt Steinberg, Amy Anzel
  • Director:              Jeff Wadlow
  • Retailer SKUs:    DVD (RRP £19.99)
Blu-ray (RRP £24.99)
Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray (RRP £29.99)
KICK-ASS and KICK-ASS 2 DVD (RRP £22.99)
KICK-ASS and KICK-ASS 2 Blu-ray (RRP £29.99)
 
BONUS CONTENT:
Blu-ray Disc:
  • Alternate Opening  + Commentary
  • The Making of Kick-Ass 2
  • Extended Scenes + Commentary
  • Hit Girl Attacks: Creating the Van Sequence
  • Big Daddy Returns: The Unshot Scene
  • Feature Commentary with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz and Writer / Director Jeff Wadlow
 
For further information, review discs or film imagery please contact Fever PR:
Sophia Dryden                                                                  Felicity Pentland
020 7792 7458                                                                    020 7927 7426
sophia.dryden@feverpr.com                                      felicity.pentland@feverpr.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Universal Pictures (UK) is a division of Universal Pictures International Entertainment, which is part of NBCUniversal - one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.
© 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.


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